Commentary and analysis to persuade people to become socialist and to act for themselves, organizing democratically and without leaders, to bring about a world of common ownership and free access. We are solely concerned with building a movement of socialists for socialism. We are not reformists with a programme of policies to patch up capitalism.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Irrational Ebola Theories

The Liberian Council of Churches has blamed Ebola on
homosexuality. It’s tragic enough that 10,000 people have contracted Ebola in
the region, and that half of them have died. Now, according to a report in
Reuters, gay people are literally afraid to walk the streets after religious
leaders have blamed the plague on them and newspapers have splashed their
photos on the front page.

"Since church ministers declared Ebola was a plague
sent by God to punish sodomy in Liberia, the violence toward gays has
escalated. They're even asking for the death penalty. We're living in
fear," LGBT activist Leroy Ponpon told Reuters over the phone from
Monrovia.

The Liberian Council of Churches released a statement saying
"God is angry with Liberia, and that Ebola is a plague." It went on:

“Liberians have to pray and seek God's forgiveness over the
corruption and immoral acts (such as homosexualism, etc.) that continue to
penetrate our society. As Christians, we must repent and seek God's
forgiveness.”

"Voluntary sodomy" is a crime in Liberia and can
lead to a year in jail.

President Ellen Sirleaf called for a three-day period of
fasting and prayer back in August, “to seek God’s face to have mercy on us and
forgive our sins and heal our land.” Notably, Sirleaf’s call blamed witchcraft,
rather than homosexuality, for the spread of the disease.

Oh, those backward Liberians. Oh, those backward Christians.
Oh, those backward homophobes. But didn’t Ronald Reagan say that the AIDS
epidemic took place because “illicit sex is against the Ten Commandments”?

In early August, Oklahoma conservative Christian radio host
Rick Miles appeared to echo the anti-gay Liberian clergymen, pinning the advent
of the epidemic on things loathed by American right-wing.

"This Ebola epidemic can become a global pandemic, and
that’s another name for plague," he said. "It may be the great
attitude adjustment that I believe is coming. Ebola could solve America’s
problems with atheism, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, pornography and
abortion."

Rational explanations for epidemics such as poor basic health-care and lack of medical dethrones their God from the position of
Controller-in-Chief. And if God isn’t the one calling the shots in the
universe, why bother with religion? So, better a vengeful God, who punishes a
nation because some in it are having sex, than no God at all.